Michigan Education Trust to Host 10th Annual Pizza Party Fundraiser on the Michigan State Capitol Lawn

For just a $10 donation, attendees at the 10th annual Michigan Education Trust (MET) Pizza Party on the Capitol Lawn on Thursday, June 16, can enjoy a pizza lunch while helping make the dream of a college education a reality for young adults who have experienced foster care.

The event will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Michigan State Capitol Lawn at the corner of North Capital Avenue and West Ottawa Street in downtown Lansing. The event will feature live entertainment, speakers, vendors, and a chance to win raffle prizes.

All money raised goes to the Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund, which annually awards scholarships to young adults who have experienced foster care and are enrolled in Michigan colleges and universities. Since 2012, various fundraising efforts have raised more than $1.3 million for the Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund.

For a minimum donation of $10, attendees will receive a slice of pizza, dessert and a drink. To ensure there is enough pizza to go around, MET asks all who plan to attend to preregister online.

This year, the Treasury Black History Month Committee will be partnering with the Fostering Futures Scholarship with a celebration in honor of Juneteenth.

The Pillow Effect, a Michigan Youth Opportunities Initiative project, will again collect new standard pillows and pillowcases during the event. Because children entering foster care often don't have their essential personal items with them, The Pillow Effect provides pillows to foster care youth in Berrien, Calhoun, Clinton/Eaton, Ingham, Ionia/Montcalm, Jackson, Livingston and Macomb counties. Financial donations are also welcome.

The Pizza Party on the Capitol Lawn is sponsored by Hungry Howie's, Michigan Youth Opportunities Initiative, Park West Foundation, Michigan Student Financial Aid Association, Michigan College Access Network, Treasury Black History Month Program Committee, LAFCU, GUD Marketing and MSU Federal Credit Union.

Administered by the Michigan Department of Treasury, MET is the state's Section 529 prepaid tuition program, which allows for the purchase of future college tuition credits based on today's rates. MET, Michigan Education Savings Program (MESP) and MI 529 Advisor Plan (MAP), Michigan's three Section 529 college savings programs, offer Michigan taxpayers a state income tax deduction on contributions and potential tax-free growth on earnings if account proceeds are used to pay for qualified higher education expenses.

More information about MET is available at www.michigan.gov/setwithmet or 800-MET-4-KID (800-638-4543).